BMTA
PO Box 53271
Atlanta, GA  30355-1271

Contact Us

Current Officers

President:

Ralph Heller

Vice President:

Dick Evans

Secretary:

Margaret Meadows

GA Maintenance:

George Owen

TN/NC Maintenance:

Richard Harris

Smokies Coordinator:

Shirley Banks

Trail Construction:

Eric Eades

Hiking:

Pam Sullivan

Membership:

Bill Hamrick

Treasurer:

Darcy Douglas

Publicity:

Marge Heller

Newsletter Editor:

Betty Petty

Conservation:

Jeff Hunter

Past Pres.:

Steve Cartwright

State Rep. - GA:

Bob Ruby

State Rep. - TN:

Ken Jones

State Rep. - NC:

Butch Horn

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.

Association bylaws revised on 08-Nov-2008

Home page photo, the BMT along Tennessee/North Carolina state line as seen from Whigg Meadow in Spring, courtesy of Alleen Davis.

BMTA PRESENTATION AT REI PERIIMETER

Tuesday, February 16 – 7PM

Join Bob Ruby, BMTA State Rep.-GA, for this presentation which includes a “virtual tour” of the trail and includes options for hiking the trail.

Location:  REI Perimeter

Contact Customer Service:  770-901-9200 (Reservation required)

Cost:  FREE

You created it. Now come hike it!

The Trail

The Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) is a footpath of nearly 300 miles (480 km) through the Appalachian mountains of the southeastern United States. It is designed for foot travel in the tradition of the Appalachian Trail (AT).

Running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Davenport Gap on the northern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the Smokies), the BMT passes through some of the most remote backcountry in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, including eight federally designated Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas. For further information on the trail, visit the BMT Vital Info page.

Hike Leader:  Dick Evans  (828) 479-2503 - email (richardevans at wildblue dot net).
Please contact Hike Leader for meeting time and place!!     

The overall length is 4.43 miles.  Difficulty is moderate.  In winter, as scheduled, there are great views into the Joyce Kilmer/Slickrock Wilderness and good views of the western end of the National Park.  The trailhead is at the NC/TN state line on Route 129 at the western end of the National Park, south of Maryville, TN.  Parking there is EXTREMELY limited, so we will arrange car pool depending on participants.  Without prior coordination, folks should not expect to find parking there the day of the hike.

The hike follows an old gravel road, virtually flat, for the first 2.68 miles, with views to the northwest and normally lots of wildlife signs.  After that, the trail climbs up a slope to join the original AT routing and follows a ridge for the remaining 1.75 miles, finally descending to the Cheoah Dam.  Depending on time and weather, we may then continue on the Slickrock Creek/Ike Branch sections of the BMTA for a short distance.  Given the date, snow is to be expected on the ground, especially on the ridge.  Participants should bring lunch, water and warm layered clothing, as the ridge can be several degrees colder than the valley, and subject to windy conditions.  In bad conditions, hypothermia could be a concern on the ridge, but the short distance make this a great winter hike.  Hats, gloves and wind shells, top and bottom, as well as boots suitable for 3-5 inches of snow would be needed in cold weather.  If the weather is nice, with no snow on the ground, this could be done in tee shirt and shorts.  Trip leader will contact participants a couple of days prior to hike to give up to date conditions for the hike.  Sleeping accommodations are available at trip leader's home if desired.  Post hike dining will vary depending on weather conditions.  Contact trip leader at richardevans at wildblue dot net.

Look at the slide show of the January hike on the BMT Section 12e: Big Lost Creek Trail  on youtube. Click onto link or copy and paste: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee_jws_ME5s and turn up the sound (slow intro)

For Hikers

There are numerous access points and trailheads along the BMT route creating many options for one-way and loop hikes, and several more in combination with local trails. Longer hikes are possible on the BMT by doing a partial or full thru-hike. And the longest walks are done by also using the three major intersecting trails, the Pinhoti, the AT, and the 900-plus mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Because the BMT intersects the AT at each terminus and in the middle, three large hikable loops are formed in a figure 8: a lower circle of 364 miles, an upper Smokies-only walk of 158 miles, and 'The BMT Loop' - a complete circuit hike of over 500 miles. The Georgia Loop, "toughest hike in Georgia", is a 55-mile triangle of the BMT, the AT and the Duncan Ridge Trail. In the Eastern Continental Trail; the 4400-plus mile route from Key West, Florida to Cape Gaspe, Quebec, Canada; the BMT connects the Pinhoti and Appalachian Trails. For more hiker information, check the Hiker Resources page.

The Association

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA) was organized in 1979 and incorporated in 1980 to build and maintain the BMT. Driving the effort was a desire to see opened for hiking Benton MacKaye's chosen route for his Appalachian mountain trail. MacKaye (rhymes with sky), Massachusetts forester and co-founder of The Wilderness Society, was the man whose vision inspired what is today the Appalachian Trail. In the south, he had selected a more westerly route, along the western crest of the Blue Ridge, roughly that followed today by the BMT. The BMTA's 25th anniversary year saw the original plan completed as the route was officially opened on July 16, 2005.

As with most trail organizations, the BMTA is an all-volunteer, nonprofit group of folks who want to see the trail remain open and in good shape. Those who live close enough and are able gather regularly to work on maintaining the trail, also to hike and for special events. They and others contribute through their membership.

Want to Help?

Your support is welcome. Becoming a member, participating in or leading maintenance and/or recreational outings, adopting a section of trail, serving on the BMTA board of directors, being a project leader, assisting with administrative needs, and/or making a financial donation are all ways in which you can lend a hand. It's easy to join and when you keep your membership current, you're helping us maintain and improve the trail. See the Want to Help? page for a list of current needs.

Any and all are invited to participate in BMTA outings; no experience is necessary and membership is not required. Join us!

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